The 29-year-old fluffed both runs in the top 10 shoot-out as his season continued to unravel.

And teammate Nico Rosberg claimed his teammate’s final spin was to blame for his third place on the grid.

While Felipe Massa grabbed his first pole since the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2008.

And teammate Valtterie Bottas made it a Williams lock out by taking a career-best second.

Mercedes early season domination disappeared when they lost the last round in Montreal.

Now they have been stripped of the qualifying glory too.

This was Mercedes worst team performance of the season – and on Red Bull’s home track.

For Hamilton it comes on the back of losing pole in dubious circumstances in Monaco and blown brakes Montreal.

Hamilton’s first run was disallowed after he went off the track out of Turn 8.

Then, sitting in 10th without a registered time he locked his brakes and slid off backwards at Turn Two in the final seconds.

It was an uncharacteristic mistake by Hamilton who usually revels in such drama.

“I hit the brakes and just locked up the rears,” said Hamilton.

“I’m not really sure what happened. I’ll have to look at the data.

Asked about his chances in the race as he attempts to make up the 22-point gap to Rosberg Hamilton added: “I dunno, I’ve never race here before so we’ll find out.

“It’s a great circuit and we’ve got a great engine so hopefully I’ll be able to work my way up.”

Rosberg was far from happy.

“It didn’t come together perfectly for me today. Lewis spun in front of me and I couldn’t do that lap. You have to Lift off and lost two tenths and that definitely cost me today. I had to back out of it and that’s the way it is.”

“Third place is still ok and I have a quick car for the race.”

Massa was ecstatic: “Before the start my son gave me a lucky little Neymar figure and I put it on the side of my helmet. I am a real football fan.

“I am so happy about what has happened. A great moment.

“It’s been a long time since my last pole in Brazil in 2008. It’s a very difficult and important race.

“I hope this just the beginning of great things for Williams in qualifying and the races.

"I am not sure we expected this. I so happy for Felipe because he has worked so hard over the last few races,” said Claire Williams.

“The race is the most important thing and we’ve got to get some points.”

“So proud of everyone at Williams, we have put up with so much over the last few years.”

It was a disastrous for Sebastian Vettel after one of his worst qualifying performances of the season at Red Bull’s home track.

The world champion qualified 13th and failed to make the final top 10 shoot out.

Even though former teammate Mark Webber warned critics not to write the German off he only had himself to blame because teammate Daniel Ricciardo was faster.

Nor was it a good day for Jenson Button.

He equalled his worst grid position of the year in 12th after a brake fire in the morning’s final practice cost him time and there was yet more Pastor Maldonado schenanighans.

“Events this morning had quite a bit of effect on what happened in qualifying,” said Button.

“But we would have been in top 10 if the last round had worked out but there was a Lotus seven seconds ahead of me but he proceeded to lock up at every corner and it cost me a lot of time. Hey ho,” he said

The 2009 champion has only just recovered from a bee sting on his nose at the last round.

"I looked like an Avatar,” joked Button. “My nose was pushing out my eyeballs, which was quite painful.

"I have been stung before but I got stung on my face and got a bad reaction. I did not feel very well either."

Button said the target remained to beat Ferrari to third in the constructor’s championship.

"We are 21 points behind Ferrari and they are third in the championship, so it is still going to be tough to beat them, but we have to target that.

"It was a reasonable result but the important thing was the feeling of the car and we have some more upgrades on the car for this race."

Button said talks had still not started on extending his five year stay at Woking as they move into the new era with Honda in 2015.

“No news,” he added.

"I think it is important we concentrate on the people we are working with now.

“Honda can do their own work and then later in the year, if I am racing here, then I will spend some time with them."

"It will start whenever the team start talking to me. It is not something I think is necessary to talk about right now.

"I have other thing to worry about like getting the best out of what we have. You don't want to put any extra pressure on yourself.

"It is better to be relaxed and get on with your job. “

Max Chilton qualified 21st but starts last after his three place grid penalty after his clash with teammate Jules Bianchi in Montreal.